Photograph of The Nicholas Brothers from Blackbirds of 1936: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

A silver gelatin print depicting a black-and-white image of The Nicholas Brothers, Fayard and Harold Nicholas, from the show, Blackbirds of 1936, performed at the Gaiety Theatre, London, England. The Nicholas Brothers are centrally depicted, facing each other, and both are wearing formal black tuxedos with tails, white ties, white pocket squares, and white vests. Harold Nicholas, depicted on the left of the image, is standing with his proper left leg is extended behind him with his foot poised on his toes. His proper left arm is bent with his hand held at shoulder level. He is smiling at Fayard Nicholas and shaking his proper right hand with Fayard’s. Fayard is depicted on the right side of the image. He is standing with his body turned towards the viewer and his proper right hand clasping Harold’s. He is looking at Harold and smiling. His proper left arm is bend with his hand held at shoulder level. The image is bordered with white and along bottom is centered, black text that reads, [From BLACKBIRDS. GAIETY. LONDON 1936.]. On the back of the image, along the bottom center, the photograph manufacturer’s stamp in purple ink that reads, [Phone TEMPLE BAR 6547. / PERFECT PHOTO REPRODUCTION Co. / Coliseum Chambers, / 24 CHANDOS STREET, W.C.2 / MANAGER:- JOE DAVIS.].

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: 1936
• Photograph by: Perfect Photo Reproduction Company, English
• Subject of: Fayard Nicholas, American, 1914 - 2006
• Subject of: Harold Nicholas, American, 1921 - 2000
• Subject of: Nicholas Brothers, American
• Subject of: Gaiety Theatre, British, 1864 - 1939
• Type: gelatin silver prints
• Type: portraits
• Medium: silver and photographic gelatin on photographic paper
• Dimensions: H x W (Image): 9 3/16 × 7 1/8 in. (23.3 × 18.1 cm)
• Dimensions: H x W (Sheet): 10 × 7 5/8 in. (25.4 × 19.3 cm)
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Nightlife
• Topic: Photography
• Topic: Tap dancing
• Topic: Vaudeville
• Object number: 2013.46.25.57
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: Unknown - Restrictions Possible Rights assessment and proper usage is the responsibility of the user.